Fashion and Gender

As we've progressed throughout the semester, I've developed a powerful fascination for the link between feminism and fashion. In the course of my own personal research, I've come to hold that the two aren't such totally separate, divided entities as many perceive them to be. The investigation began over summer, when I suddenly developed a hunger for high-fashion--and although I believe many fellow students within my COR 401 project would find such an interest distasteful, I stand by my newfound interest in the field. Admittedly, the perceived stereotypes of the fashion industry do occasionally prove to be true--more than once, I've turned to a feature spread in Vogue and found a supposedly 'enlightened' statement that I personally perceive as repulsive. But other times, I can say with full certainty that I truly believe fashion remains one of the most accessible, valuable ways in which we can empower women and teach them that they can be who they want to be regardless of what society deems normative. 


Consider the plethora of androgynous style icons of past and present: there's a reason why people cling to women such as Diane Keaton, the actress who rose to fame in Woody Allen's Annie Hall. In both the film and in real life, Keaton carries off a style heavily influenced by male fashions of the 40's and 50's--and in doing so, she offers up a totally separate way of being, dressing, existing that average women of her time might not have even considered possible. Such elevated status in the fashion world extends back to other similarly androgynous icons, such as Marlene Dietrich, and projects all the way to the present age--transsexual model Lea T recently shared the cover of LOVE magazine with supermodel Kate Moss, and walked several of the most prestigious designers' runways in the last season.

It goes back to the question of the chicken and the egg--which comes first? An alternative mindset, providing a different way of viewing the world, or a different way of presenting oneself to the world?

Now, I'd like to specify that I've read the articles and watched the documentaries; I've seen the way many seek to label the fashion industry as simply another means to another patriarchal end--the poses riddled with images of submission, of self-touching; the stances we assume to be feminine simply because they portray what we assume to be "weakness." But to write off the entire industry as submitting to patriarchal, sexist norms would be to overwrite one of the most accessible means of changing perspectives within a given society.

By teaching people to present themselves in a way that they perceive as natural and comfortable, we allow them to project parts of themselves that they might not otherwise be willing to share. For instance, I find myself to be a heterosexual, Christian, 21-year-old woman completely comfortable in her sexuality who detests dresses and, on the whole, refuses to wear them unless I personally deem the occasion as fitting (generally for costumes, I'll be honest). I've experienced my own fair share of scrutiny for such decisions, yet I widely recognize that my experiences pale in comparison to the persecution faced by thousands of others. For instance,  I'd love to invest myself into dialogue with a man who finds himself most comfortable in what our society deems to be 'feminine clothing,' such as a skirt or a dress. Why is it more socially acceptable that I may choose to dress in clothing that might have, a hundred years ago, been perceived solely as menswear, when other individuals do not find those same opportunities to be opened unto them?

The fashion industry is often portrayed as a shallow, soulless field, in which men and women's bodies and sexualities are sold as easily and as guiltlessly as any other exchange readily available for examination in modern society. However, I propose fashion to be one of the most readily accepting arenas for social change, as illustrated in its ready acceptance of homosexuals and transgendered persons, and believe it to be invaluably useful in modifying society's perceptions of gender as they currently stand.

--Tara W.

Little boys and Dolls

This article illustrates some of the stereotypes and gender biased thoughts that some people have in regards to children and their choice of toys. Take a look!

http://www.boston.com/community/moms/blogs/child_caring/2010/02/why_shouldnt_little_boys_play_with_dolls.html

Esquire cover

This bold photograph on the cover of Esquire from 1965 foreshadows the second wave of the feminist movement that was quickly rising. The related article is most likely somewhat dubious, however (I couldn't find a copy of it anywhere).  

NPR takes a look at where gender roles stand in modern society

"Could we be heading toward the end of gender?"

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/27/137342682/the-end-of-gender

The comments to the article also provide some interesting takes on the topic.

-Ben 

Gender Roles Shaped by Family and the Church

A humorous comment on how gender roles can be shaped from an early age within the family and also within the Church.

-Audi A.

With More Equity, More Sweat

I came across this article and I wanted to share it with everyone. It talks about the workplace and how changing gender roles have affected love and marriage.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/gender/gender22a.htm


Kara S.

Identifying Our Assumptions - Ben Rieder

Although my parents weren’t exactly shoving gender roles down my throat throughout my early childhood, I still learned what the norms were almost inherently. The division between boys and girls is engrained in us not just by parents, but teachers, pastors, friends and the media. Obviously many misguided views of gender roles begin in the home, but gender cultivation is perhaps worst in schools and churches and further cemented by what we see in television and movies.

Many people ignore this and choose to pretend that there are no problems with gender roles. I believe this is changing in my generation, however. There was a time when the vast majority of our country agreed that women shouldn’t be allowed to vote. In retrospect this is unbelievable, but more so unbelievable to my generation than any other. As a generation that has grown up without the inequality our parents and grandparents had, we have the chance to make a real difference and ensure that future generations don’t have to experience the gender issues that we currently face today.

And though I do feel that we are headed towards a brighter tomorrow, we are far from there. Issues of African American’s rights became women’s rights and that became homosexual’s rights and that will become a struggle for someone else’s rights in the future. There is a cycle of inequality, but that cycle also shows that equality will happen. The best we can do is raise awareness, make invisible gender norms visible and treat people with respect.